There is no mistaking the savvy of senior defensive tackle Kris Cooper on a team in the midst of a major youth movement.
Not only is Cooper a three-year starter on a youthful team, he is the last starter from Serra's 15-0 campaign in 2009.
It doesn't take long for the nostalgia to kick in.
"When I think about 2009, that feels like a long time ago," Cooper said, laughing. "We've gone through so much this year, it feels like five years. But at the same time, it still feels like yesterday. The (CIF) ring is my reminder."
So when Serra hosts Chaminade in a Mission League title showdown Friday night, the young Cavaliers will undoubtedly look for their big-game leader who has played in so many of Serra's biggest games.
Serra coach Scott Altenberg had inserted Cooper into the starting lineup for that fateful CIF-SS title game victory against Oaks Christian in 2009. The next week, Cooper also started the CIF State Division III Bowl victory against Marin Catholic.
Cooper's emergence allowed Altenberg to move David Moala to nose guard, a move that Moala parlayed into an Arizona State scholarship.
"Moala just exploded after moving to nose guard. In a way, Cooper had a lot to do with Moala's success," Altenberg said. "Cooper is one of our few veterans who has experience. We've asked him to go both ways. He hadn't been an offensive lineman before, but we move him all around, starting at center, at guard.
"He's not a loud guy, but he does his job and he knows what it takes because he's been in so many big games. He's been right there, and as he's gotten older and matured, he has started to figure it out."
The 6-foot-3, 278-pound Cooper said he is excited for the showdown against Chaminade, but big games aren't new to him.
Cooper played Pop Warner with former Serra stars George Farmer (USC) and Woodson Greer (Colorado).
Cooper was also part of Serra's back-to-back CIF-SS titles and back-to-back CIF State bowl appearances in the past two years.
"I'm one of the captains of the defense. I'm the person who's been there the longest," Cooper said.
"If they have something to ask, I'm there for them. I know all the hand signals. I know what the corners are supposed to be doing, where the linebackers are supposed to be."
In addition to his leadership, Cooper has had a constant presence in opposing backfields.
Cooper has 36 tackles and six sacks, using a menacing first step and great technique to wreak havoc in the backfield.
"The first thing I worry about is my `get-off,' my first step," Cooper said. "Some players worry about what moves they're going to make, but my coaches tell me if I get a good `get-off,' that's half the battle. Then the move is the finishing touch."
Maybe Cooper's biggest thrill this season: he has had two interceptions in his last three games.
"He's been calling himself Cooper Island out there," said Altenberg, referencing Jets defensive back Darrelle Revis. "It's rare for a D-tackle to have an interception in his career, and he's had two in three weeks.
"It's hilarious. People see our stats and ask me, `Oh you got a DB named Cooper,' and I tell them that he's our D-tackle."
Cooper has been so prolific that teams have begun to double-team him regularly, an adjustment he has handled well this season.
"Without a doubt, he's always had tremendous upside, but he's been surrounded by all these top guys," Altenberg said. "It was just a matter of him realizing that he's one of those guys too."
Cooper said he was inspired earlier in his career playing with former Serra defensive tackle Sione Tuihalamaka, who is now at the University of Arizona.
"He was the No. 1 D-tackle in California, and dang, I wanted to be like him," Cooper said.
"I remember he told me I could be as good as him. He told me to make sure I handled my business in the classroom and the field. I know it sounds clich , but it really spoke to me, maybe because it was coming from him."
Cooper also can find inspiration in his uncle, Eric Cooper, who played for Banning in the glory days of the mid-1980s, playing on the 1985 City championship team.
His sister, Leslie Cooper, is a freshman at Serra who is a first baseman for the softball team.
Now Cooper is looking to leave his own legacy at Serra.
"I'm not very talkative, but I knew I had to step up and be a leader," Cooper said. "I've worked hard. I knew this was going to be my year."
Not only is Cooper a three-year starter on a youthful team, he is the last starter from Serra's 15-0 campaign in 2009.
It doesn't take long for the nostalgia to kick in.
"When I think about 2009, that feels like a long time ago," Cooper said, laughing. "We've gone through so much this year, it feels like five years. But at the same time, it still feels like yesterday. The (CIF) ring is my reminder."
So when Serra hosts Chaminade in a Mission League title showdown Friday night, the young Cavaliers will undoubtedly look for their big-game leader who has played in so many of Serra's biggest games.
Serra coach Scott Altenberg had inserted Cooper into the starting lineup for that fateful CIF-SS title game victory against Oaks Christian in 2009. The next week, Cooper also started the CIF State Division III Bowl victory against Marin Catholic.
Cooper's emergence allowed Altenberg to move David Moala to nose guard, a move that Moala parlayed into an Arizona State scholarship.
"Moala just exploded after moving to nose guard. In a way, Cooper had a lot to do with Moala's success," Altenberg said. "Cooper is one of our few veterans who has experience. We've asked him to go both ways. He hadn't been an offensive lineman before, but we move him all around, starting at center, at guard.
"He's not a loud guy, but he does his job and he knows what it takes because he's been in so many big games. He's been right there, and as he's gotten older and matured, he has started to figure it out."
The 6-foot-3, 278-pound Cooper said he is excited for the showdown against Chaminade, but big games aren't new to him.
Cooper played Pop Warner with former Serra stars George Farmer (USC) and Woodson Greer (Colorado).
Cooper was also part of Serra's back-to-back CIF-SS titles and back-to-back CIF State bowl appearances in the past two years.
"I'm one of the captains of the defense. I'm the person who's been there the longest," Cooper said.
"If they have something to ask, I'm there for them. I know all the hand signals. I know what the corners are supposed to be doing, where the linebackers are supposed to be."
In addition to his leadership, Cooper has had a constant presence in opposing backfields.
Cooper has 36 tackles and six sacks, using a menacing first step and great technique to wreak havoc in the backfield.
"The first thing I worry about is my `get-off,' my first step," Cooper said. "Some players worry about what moves they're going to make, but my coaches tell me if I get a good `get-off,' that's half the battle. Then the move is the finishing touch."
Maybe Cooper's biggest thrill this season: he has had two interceptions in his last three games.
"He's been calling himself Cooper Island out there," said Altenberg, referencing Jets defensive back Darrelle Revis. "It's rare for a D-tackle to have an interception in his career, and he's had two in three weeks.
"It's hilarious. People see our stats and ask me, `Oh you got a DB named Cooper,' and I tell them that he's our D-tackle."
Cooper has been so prolific that teams have begun to double-team him regularly, an adjustment he has handled well this season.
"Without a doubt, he's always had tremendous upside, but he's been surrounded by all these top guys," Altenberg said. "It was just a matter of him realizing that he's one of those guys too."
Cooper said he was inspired earlier in his career playing with former Serra defensive tackle Sione Tuihalamaka, who is now at the University of Arizona.
"He was the No. 1 D-tackle in California, and dang, I wanted to be like him," Cooper said.
"I remember he told me I could be as good as him. He told me to make sure I handled my business in the classroom and the field. I know it sounds clich , but it really spoke to me, maybe because it was coming from him."
Cooper also can find inspiration in his uncle, Eric Cooper, who played for Banning in the glory days of the mid-1980s, playing on the 1985 City championship team.
His sister, Leslie Cooper, is a freshman at Serra who is a first baseman for the softball team.
Now Cooper is looking to leave his own legacy at Serra.
"I'm not very talkative, but I knew I had to step up and be a leader," Cooper said. "I've worked hard. I knew this was going to be my year."
http://www.dailybreeze.com/preps/ci_19287380
Source: Tony Ciniglio, Staff Writer, Daily Breeze